From famous, widely used routes such as the Silk Road, to the lesser known Siberian river-ways, trade routes have existed on earth since before the dawn of exploration. In its second iteration, thin lines show naval routes, while thick lines display overland trade tracks:

[386] Pre-Rail Trade Routes, 2013

From famous, widely used routes such as the Silk Road, to the lesser known Siberian river-ways, trade routes have existed on earth since before the dawn of exploration. Shown in black tape are naval routes, white tape displaying overland tracks prior to the advent of the steam engine, which revolutionized trade and travel from 1769 onward.